The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-12-07

friends great agony in eontemplative, pity
Ing silence.
At length he spoke
9'Stephen Langdon, had not thought you
50 weak and unjust. / had thought You
man true and earnest in your friendship, not
a man to desert his duty at the first cry Of
the wolff
"Dadmun Carterl arc you madp'
Il mads Stephen, you are the mailman.
Look at it. As between an angel and SER
pent, you side with the serpent As between
an angel and serpent! As between Laura
Dempsey and Matilda Stark, you jump TO
faith in Stark Oh, Stephen!n
"But, man alive, did you not understand
what told youl-what she, Matilda Stark,
told meg
"Well, there you have a cause in trial lie
tween Stark and Dempsey. Have you seen
the defendant Oh, man, man, have you
lived all these years with the need, at this
late hour, of hearing from me that the case
never was between man and man that had
not two sides to itl But beyond that, in this
case, who is the complainant First, what
is her characterl Do need to tell your
Langdon shook his head blankly, but In
dicatiye of negation.
'Next,n went on Carter, 'what interest, il
any, hasshe in the matter2 Stephen, are you
blindl Don't you know that Matilda Stark
sought your smiles, your society, your hand,
oopen and so unblushingly and so persist
emily, that everybody smiled in disdainl And
do you know that she has since labored to
bring about a union between yourself and her
youngest sisterin
Stephen looked up like a man trying to find
the light.
''Come, Stephen Langdon, have you the
courage to follow this thing upg'
"Whata go to Laura9 Go to her with such
Pm afraid I've been fool; but you don't
know how it hurt me.n
II do not doubt it; but / don't fancy the
hurt will long remain to give you pain. If
there were need of going TO Laura, should
hope you would havo the courage and manli-
ncss-to say nothing of good faith--to go to
her; but, thank fortune, there was third
party present, and one whom | Snow you
win credit; though, be sure, Miss Stark did
not know she had another nearer. Your old
nurse, Betty, was in an adjoining room and
heard every word. Let us go to her. She
will be circumspect where you are coli
cerned.n
But, Dadmun, how came you to knowr
Because | CHANGED to call on Laura very
shortly after Miss Stark had gone away, and
found her in tears, confess to the weak
ness of curiosity, and, so far, of informed
ding, waited until could speak with old
Betty apart, and from her / learned the
truth. Let us go now. Laura is absent this
afternoon
Stephen Langdon went with his friend.
They found Betty alone, and to her Carter
stated the business in hand.
"Oh the classifying, mischief making
thingr' snapped the old lady. "Tll tell you,
Master Stephen, just how it was--for heard
every word-every word, just as plain as
though I'd sat right before her."
And then she went on and told the story.
Matilda Stark had come on purpose to SOW
the seeds Of discord and unhappiness IL she
could
She had-told Laura, directly and distinctly,
that Langdon cared no more for her than he
cared for many others; and she tried to inn
press it upon the girls mind that she was
doing thing dangerous to her peace, and, it
might be, dangerous to her reputation, in
suffering the frequent visits of such man, u
man, she said old enough to be her father.
And so the evil woman had gone on, until
she had goaded the poor girl almost to mad
moss.
@But, said Stephen, "Miss Stark told me
that Laura distinctly told her that she cared
not for me, but that she did care for my
moneyw
The old woman put out her hand.
sob, the wicked womanl If she had told
you all that the dear girl said it would have
sounded very different; here is what Laura
said, can give her very words; Miss Stark
had told her that people accused her Of hunt
ing for rich husband and that she never
would have looked with favor upon Stephen
Langdon had it not been for his wealth. And
then Laura said-I care not for Stephen
Langdon wealthy never cared for him as
owner Of vast estates, never And then the
serpent said 10 her in her wheedling way,
And so you wouldnt care for wealth. and
Laura answered to that, Yes she said, in
her sweet way, i should care for wealth,
because with wealth / could make so many
people happy / should love to be able to
lift the burden of sorrow from every human
heart; and the poesessor of wealth can do so
much! Oh, so much' That's what she said,
Stephen
The sunlight had come, and Stephen Lang
don's heart bounded up.
And that very evening he sat by Ilaura's
side, with her hand clasped in his, and listen
ed TO the story from her own lips; and before
he went away he had set the day for their
marriage, for he knew that the girl loved
him truly and devotcdly.
Years have passed since that time, and
Stephen Langdon has never had occasion to
doubt the love of his wife.
And, moreover, tho forecast of Dadmun
Carter had been fulfilled in every particular.
Stephen had been raised to a plane of
healthful, happy life before unknown; and,
under the guidance of his wife, entering into
her schemes of love and blessing, he has
earned the love and blessing, in rich return,
of all who have the heart and tho will to APP
preciatc true Christian goodness New York
Evening World